If you are looking for a family meal that is simple and delicious, these cheesy Gluten Free Meatballs without Breadcrumbs are just perfect. Made without egg, these meatballs are kid-friendly, keto, and easy to make. You can even finish them in the slow cooker!
This is a sponsored post bought to you by Uncommon Flavors of Europe. All opinions are my own.
Meatballs without Breadcrumbs Backstory
I always love this time of year when the weather finally cools off enough that I can enjoy comfort food.
Does it get any more comforting than Spaghetti and Meatballs?
Today, I’ve got Gluten Free Meatballs that the whole family is going to love.
I promise you won’t miss the gluten. Or the eggs!
The secret weapon? Cheese.
It is no secret that I love cheese.
A year ago, I decided that since I loved cheese so much, I should start enjoying the good stuff.
Since then, I’ve had a lot of fun trying new varieties and seeking out authentic versions of cheeses I loved to see if they did taste better than what I was used to eating.
What I’ve found is that when you have authentic cheeses that adhere to rigorous standards in production, the flavor is so robust that you can use less yet get more flavor.
(Or in this case, you can skip the eggs and breadcrumbs and still have a gluten free meatball that holds together and is delicious.)
Two cheese that I love are Pecorino Romano and Asiago.
Look for ones that bare the EU Symbols of excellence which guarantees that the products adhere to the same strict production standards that have been in place for hundreds of years and that they come from the official place of origin. (In this case, it is Italy!)
Two Designations to Look For:
- Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) – These foods have the strongest links to the original historical practices. Both the raw ingredients and production must come from the original area.
- Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) – The raw ingredients must come from the EU, but may be sourced from outside the specific limited production area. The same rigorous production standards apply.
Learn more here.
Asiago
Asiago melts smoothly on your tongue and tastes of fresh milk. Made from cow’s milk, it has lactic cultures similar to yogurt which help to support digestive health.
Asiago is such a versatile cheese given that it comes in two ages – fresh or aged. The fresh cheese has a soft texture, while the aged cheese is firmer.
It is harder to find Italian Asiago than you think! Make sure you look for the Asiago PDO, so you know that you are getting the real deal! It should have the work Asiago pressed into the rind.
Pecorino Romano
While there are domestic imitations of Pecorino Romano, the term Pecorino Romano is not a generic name that should be applied to any cheese of this style. Rather, it is a geographically protected Italian food that is made in a specific region, under strict guidelines, and with traditional methods. All of these factors play a key role in the final flavor profile of the cheese. It is important to realize that Romano is not the same as Pecorino Romano and all Pecorinos are not the same.
Pecorino Romano is one of the oldest cheeses in the world. It has a sharper and saltier taste than Parmesan making it great for pasta, soup, and salads. One of my all-time favorite splurge dishes is a homemade ravioli with Pecorino Romano. It always blows me away that something with so few ingredients can have such amazing flavor!
‘Pecora’ is the Italian word for sheep, and as you might guess Pecorino Romano is made from sheep’s milk. It is lactose-free and contains twice the protein of cheese made from cow’s milk.
For more information on the history of these ancient cheeses and more recipes, you can visit this website where they are featuring Asiago, Pecorino Romano along with Speck Alto Adige which is also from Italy.
How to Make Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs
1. Combine the ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Form your meatballs.
3. Cook the meatballs in a skillet until a crust forms.
4. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until cooked through. (About 15 minutes.)
5. Once the meatballs are cooked through you can add sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Meatballs Fall Apart Without Breadcrumbs?
Meatballs will fall apart more easily without breadcrumbs. However, if you can easily make meatballs without breadcrumbs using the proper method. The key is to brown them on the stovetop so that a crust forms and then to fully cook them in the oven before adding them to your sauce.
Can I Make This in the Slow Cooker?
If you have a slow cooker with a browning function, brown them in the slow cooker and then cover with marinara and cook on low for 2 to 4 hours. Because you are adding the sauce before the meatballs are cooked through, they will be more likely to fall apart using this method. The key is to make sure that you have a nice brown crust before adding the sauce.
Variations for Gluten Free Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs
- For spicer breadcrumbs, add 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper.
- Add in 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil and parsley.
- Add 1/2 cup each of chopped onion and mushrooms.
- Saute 5 ounces of baby spinach. Chop. Press through a fine strainer to remove moisture. Add to the meat mixture.
Serving Suggestions for Gluten Free Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs
- Serve over zucchini noodles or cooked spaghetti squash.
- Serve over cauliflower rice.
- Use in Meatball Subs.
- Use to make Meatball Pizza
The Quality of Meat You Eat Matters!
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Recommended Tools to Make Gluten Free Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs:
Gluten Free Meatballs without Breadcrumbs
Gluten Free Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups Asiago cheese aged
- 2 tablespoon minced garlic more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- Avocado oil for cooking
- Pasta Marinara and Zucchini Noodles for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl combine ground beef, Asiago cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Form into meatballs. (I used a 2 tablespoon measure.)
- Heat a small amount of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the meatballs, working in batches until browned on all sides.
- Transfer to a baking sheet, and cook for 15 minutes, until cooked through.
Nutrition
If You Like These Gluten Free Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs, You May Also Like:
- Smokey Quinoa Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Sauce
- Quinoa Turkey Meatballs
- Greek Meatballs with Feta Sauce
- Slow Cooker Chipotle Meatballs
Claudia Krusch
November 21, 2017 at 11:38 PMThese Gluten Free Meatballs look so delicious and easy to make. I am always looking for new gluten free recipes to try. I will have to add this recipe to my meal plan for next week.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle
November 22, 2017 at 12:54 AMThose meatballs sound so good! The best thing about these is that they can be used in so many different dishes or just as an appetizer.
Bill Sweeney
November 22, 2017 at 1:05 AMYou know, I didn’t know until recently that most meatballs aren’t gluten free. I never once thought about the gluten of the breadcrumbs.
Danielle
November 22, 2017 at 1:13 AMThe best thing you can ever put in meatballs is cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. Om nom nom.
Becky Willis
November 22, 2017 at 1:39 AMThis looks very good. I will be sharing this with my friend who has a son who cannot eat items with gluten in them.
Victoria Heckstall
November 22, 2017 at 1:57 PMThis really looks delicious! I prefer healthy recipe and this is perfect! I’ll have to try this.
Ruth I.
November 22, 2017 at 4:23 PMOh wow! It’s interesting to know these cheese facts. I also love cheese and pasta and would like to try this recipe!
Cherri Megasko
November 22, 2017 at 5:36 PMThose are two of my favorite cheeses as well. My best friend is gluten-free and I’ll be visiting her right after the new year. I’ll have to make these for her.
Up Run for Life Healthy Lifestyle Blog
November 22, 2017 at 7:07 PMWe love cheese too. My youngest loves spaghetti and meatballs so I ended up buying the ones in the freezer section. I wasn’t super impressed but it made my son happy so I was all for it. Your meatballs sound so much better. Plus, who can pass up cheese? 🙂
Clara
November 23, 2017 at 4:02 AMI have a warm spot in my heart for cheese too. This meatball recipe sounds delicious and I can see myself making it.
Elizabeth L
November 23, 2017 at 2:58 PMThese look really yummy and I am totally a fan of the fact that they are also Gluten Free.
Ricci
November 24, 2017 at 2:20 AMThese meatballs sound super yummy! I will have to try them for myself soon!! YUM!!
GiGi Eats
November 24, 2017 at 7:09 PMIm not sure why people think GRAIN is necessary for meatballs! THEY TASTE AMAZING without bread crumbs!!
Edna
November 27, 2017 at 12:35 AMI think that since years ago ground beef was fatty unlike today. I think the breadcrumbs were to help absorb the excess fat so the balls would not fall apart. The egg was also to give them extra “hold”. That’s my guess anyway.
David Elliott
November 25, 2017 at 12:07 AMI will have to try this. I would never have thought of using cheese to put together these meatballs like this. I do think this would make for a delicious meatball though, and you might get a little bit of crunch with it as well.
Sues
November 25, 2017 at 6:57 PMThese meatballs look awesome and I love learning a bit more about cheese, too 🙂 The more cheese, the better!!
Teri Grottke
April 19, 2018 at 2:04 PMThe nutritional information doesn’t say how many meatballs are in a serving. It would be helpful to know this especially because it seems to contain a high amount of fat & sodium as currently listed.
Wendy Polisi
April 20, 2018 at 7:13 PMThat would depend on how big you make them! If you are carefully tracking, weight your meat and divide it into 6 portions and then you will know exactly the nutrients for each. I don’t fear good fat, as long as I am having it with vegetables rather than lots of carbs.